Combination floor and tub towel racks



G. B. BENTZ COMBINATION FLOOR AND TUB TOWEL RACKS Nov. 28, 1939,

3 Sheds-Sheet 1 Filed Jim 7, 1938 George Z. $6727? I Nov. 28, 1939.. a. B. BENTZ COMBINATION FLOOR AND TUB TOWEL RACKS Filed June 7, 1938 :5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Invenfor femzqe Z5. Benfz Nov; 28, 1939. G. g. BENTZ 5 2,181,543

COMBINATION FLOOR AND TUB TOWEL RACKS Filed June 'r, 1938 s Sheets-Sheet :s

Patented Nov. 28, 1939 PATENT OFFICE 218L543 COMBINATION. FLOOR TUB TOWEL RACKS.

GeorgeaBz Bentz, New York; N. Y. Application June 7, 1938; Serial No- 212361 2 Claims.

The invention aims to provide a new and improved rack for towels and. the like adapted primarily for use in .bathrooms, the rack being of such construction that it may be supported on 5 one-wallof a bathtub in a rather small bathroom,

ormay rest directly on the floor in more commodious quarters.

Withthe foregoing in view, the invention residesin the novelsubject matter hereinafter de- 10 scribed and claimed, description being accompanied by reference to the accompanying drawmgs.

Fig. 1 is a perspective View showing one form of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view through a portion of one side wall of a double-wall bathtub showing the rack of Fig. 1 positioned thereon.

Fig. 3 is a view similar toFig. 2 but showing the rack in place on a rolled-rim tub wall.

20 Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the rack showing it resting upon the floor.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the pivoted holding armshown in the preceding figures.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing another form of construction.

Fig. 7 is a perspective View showing a.stillfurther forrnof construction.

Fig. 8 is an end elevation showing a construe-e tion in which the tub wall-straddling arches are formed from spring metal to yieldably grip the wall.

Fig. 9. is a perspective view showing ,astill further variation.

Figs. 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 are perspective views showing still further forms ofconstruction.

Fig. 15 is a perspective view-showing a rack engaged with a kitchen sink for holding tea towels, dish cloths and the like.

In all forms of constructiongthe rack includes twohorizontally spaced vertically elongated end frames constructed to-either rest upon aflooror to straddle. a bathtubside wall, and one or more horizontal rodsextending between and secured to the upper'po-r tions of said end frames for use in hanging towels. or other articles. The device may. thus be usedeither upon a tub side wallor resting directly onthe fi'oor, according to the available space or the users desire.

In. the form-oi constructionshown in Figs. 1 to 5, the two end frames are denotedat E. Each of these-end-frames includes an arch portion 15 having inner and outer legs 16 and H for disposition at the inner and outer sides of adoublewall tub l8 (Fig. 2) or an old type rolled-rim tub l9 (Fig. 3). each arch portion. 15, preferably substantially continuous with the outer leg IT thereof, is a rod supporting. post 20,'the upper portionof said post. being directed laterally from the plane of said legll.v Supporting rods- 21 for towels or Projecting upwardly from each other articles, extendbetween the two posts 20 and are secured thereto in any preferred manner. In. the present showing, these posts are provided with apertured lugs. 22 in which said rods are secured. 'I'haveal'so shown a grab railor similar rodi'2'3"extending between the legs "l6 and suitably securedthereto, for instance. by fastening their ends in lateral lugs 24 on said legs. I If desired, a vanity tray 25 may extend be tween the two endframes E'and be suitably se-. cured thereto. I may also mount'a mirror 26 on the tray or upon one 'ofthe rods 2i, if desired.

Pivotedto the leg ll of eachframe E, is a swingable arm 21 which occupies the'vertically hanging position of Fig. 2 when the rack is. upon a double-wall tub, occupies a substantially hori zontal position (Fig. 3) when the rack is supported on a rolled-rim tub, and projects laterally from-"the leg l1 under the laterally directed post 20 (Fig. 4) when the rack issupported upon the floor;

to clamptl'ie rack in place thereon, and when. said arm is .in theposition of Fig. 4, the rack cannot tilt toward said arm due to a stop 2Bon said-arm whichthen abuts the leg IT.

Thearm 2T'is provided-with an oblique slot 29 through which the arm pivot. 30 passes, and. at one end'of said slot, said. arm is formed with a notch' 3|. When the arm is in the position of Fig; 2, its-weight causes it to descend with respect to the pivot 30, and the oblique slot 29 then causes .said' arm vto move inwardly into tight. contact withthe tub. wall. If desired, the pivot 30 maybein-the form of a bolt and it maybe tightened'if desired to hold the arm TI in this position. The. lower end of the arm is preferably provided with a cushion 32iof rubber or the like to prevent it from injuring the enamel on the tub wall when itswingsl downwardly. f

When the arm 21' is in the position of 5 or in that of .Fig. 4, the notch 31 receivesthe pivot 30. andif. thispivot be in the formof a bolt, it maybe tightened if desired to lock the arm in place.

In .Fig. 6, .the end frames E each .compriselan arch 33 capable of straddling a tub wall, a hori zontal rod portion 34 projecting laterally outward from one leg 35 of said arch,.one'vertica1 rod When the arm 21 is in'either of the posi tions sh'o'wnfin Figs.2 and 3, it abuts thetub wall 36 extending upwardly from the rod portion 34, another vertical rod 31 extending upwardly from the arch 33, and a portion 38 connecting the upper ends of said rods 36 and 3'1. These portions 38 are connected by a plurality of rods 39 for supporting towels or the like. I have also shown the legs 40 of the two arches 33 integrally connected by another rod 4| which may constitute a grab rail or may be used simply as an additional support for towels or the like.

I have shown a shelf 42 composed of a plurality of rods, extending between and secured to the end frames E and have also illustrated a vanity tray 43 secured to said frames.

Any suitable provision may be made for holding the device of Fig. 6 in place upon a tub and for illustrative purposes, I have illustrated two pivoted arms 44 which extend'about horizontally when the rack is upon a rolled-rim tub and hang downwardly when said rack is mounted upon a double-wall tub.

In Fig. 7, the general structure is so similar to that disclosed in Fig. 1 that description of the features in common will not be necessary. However, attention is invited to the slidable clamp members 45 on the inner legs 46 of the wall-straddling arches 47, which clamp members are simply slid downwardly into clamping position to hold the rack upon the tub wall. I also draw attention to the rigid arms 48 which project laterally from the legs 49 of the arches 41 to engage the floor and prevent tilting of the rack when resting on the latter. The arms 48 are preferably connected by a rod 50, and floor-engaging feet 51 may be provided on said arms. The parts 52 are simply rubber buttons to prevent injury to the enameled surface of the tub wall.

' In Fig. 8, it may be considered that the construction is substantially the same as that shown in Fig. 7. However, instead of using slidable clamp members such as 45, to secure the wallstraddling arches 52 in place, the arch legs 53 and 54 are formed from spring metal to yieldably grip the tub, the parts 55 being cushioned to prevent injury of the enamel. Due to the resilient nature of the legs 53 and 54, it is impracticable to provide a grab rail. Rigid arms 56 are provided, however, projecting laterally from the legs 54 to aid in supporting the rack directly upon the floor.

In Fig. 9, the construction is almost identical with that shown in Fig. 7 but no grab rail is employed, and clamping screws 57 have been shown threaded through the inner legs 58 of the wall-straddling arches 59 to secure them upon the tub, said screws having cushions 60 at their inner ends to prevent injuring the enamel. The other legs 5! of the arches 59 are also. provided with cushions 60' for the same purpose. B2, of course, illustrates a mirror, use of which is optional.

In Fig. 10, each end frame 11'} comprises spaced vertical rods 63 and 64, a rod portion 65 connecting'the upper ends of said rods, and an arch formation 66 between the lower ends of said rods to straddle a tub wall. Small feet 61 may be secured to the lower extremities of the rods 63 and 64 if desired. Supporting rods 68 for towels and the like extend between and are secured to the rod portions 65. I have also illustrated a shelf 69 composed of a plurality of rods extending between the lower portions of the side frames E and suitably secured thereto.

In Fig. 11, the construction is very similar to that of Fig. 10 but the arches 10 are associated in a somewhat different manner with the rods H and 12 of the end frames E In Fig. 12, the end frames E are practically identical with the end frames E shown in Fig. 6. These end frames E however, are not connected by a shelf nor a vanity tray, but their upper portions are connected by towel-supporting rods 13 and their lower portions are connected by a grab rail or the like 14.

The construction shown in Fig. 13 is so similar to that illustrated in Fig. 6 that it will suffice to state that a mirror 15 has been added and ,the grab rail omitted.

All of the tub-straddling arches shown in Figs. 10 to 13 are tapered to tightly wedge onto a wall of a double-wall tub without requiring any fastening means, but if desired, suitable provision could be made for permitting these forms of construction also to be supported upon a rolledrim tub. v

In Fig. 14, the construction is very similar to Fig. 13 but the mirror has been omitted and the legs 16 have been shortened.

In Fig. 15, a simplified rack is shown Which may be of a relatively small size, if desired, for engagement with a kitchen sink TI. This rack comprises two arches 78 to straddle the sink end wall, posts '19 secured to and projecting upwardly from said arches and having laterally curved upper ends 80, and towel supporting rods 8| extending between said curved ends and secured thereto.

From the foregoing taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be seen that novel and advantageous provision has been made for carrying out the objects of the invention, and while various preferred details have been shown, it is to be understood that the present disclosure is primarily for illustrative purposes, and that numerous variations may be made within the scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim:

1. A towel rack comprising two horizontally spaced vertically elongated frames comprising a vertically elongated arch to straddle a tub wall or rest on a floor, a horizontal rod portion projecting laterally from one leg of said arch, one vertical rod extending upwardly from the outer end of said horizontal rod portion, another vertical rod extending upwardly from the crown of said arch, a connecting portion between the upper ends of said vertical rods, and horizontal rods extending between and secured to said connecting portions of the two frames.

2. A towel rack comprising two horizontally spaced vertically elongated frames comprising a, vertically elongated arch to straddle a tub wall, a horizontal rod portion projecting laterally from one leg of each arch, one vertical rod extending upwardly from the outer end of said horizontal rod portion, another vertical rod extending upwardly from the crown of said arch, a connecting portion between the upper ends of said vertical rods, and a horizontal rod extending between and secured to said connecting portions of the two frames.

GEORGE B. BENTZ. 

